Apparatus for use in the manufacture of shoes



Nov. 15, 1966 K. J. TUTT ETAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed April 13, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventans KmgslefJ Taft Siazzley fiFr'zz/n zon By zhezr/lfzorney Nov. 15, 1966 K. J. TUTT ET AL APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 15, 1965 NOV. 15, 1966 TUTT ETAL 3,284,827

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed April 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NOV. 15, 1956 J, T ETAL APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 13, 1965 NOV. 15, 1966 J, T ET AL 3,284,827

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1965 United States Patent 3,284,827 APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Kingsley J. Tutt and Stanley E. Frampton, Leicester, lingland, assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,723 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 21, 1964, 16,422/64; Oct. 20, 1964, 42,645/64 17 Claims. (Cl. 1254.1)

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of shoes and particularly to a novel and improved apparatus for deforming selected portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting.

In the manufacture of shoes it is customary to pull an upper over a last, generally to conform the upper to the last, and then to perform a lasting operation which secures the upper, generally to an insole, around its periphery and holds the upper to the last. The shape of the finished shoe is imparted by the last, and it is desirable that the upper should be pulled tightly onto the last so that it may fully take the shape of the last. It is often necessary to place considerable strain on an upper to pull it tightly to the last. In particular in shoes with high fronted, one piece vamps, considerable difficulty is sometimes experienced in pulling the upper tightly down over the last, especially over the instep portion of the last where there may be a tendency for the upper to bridge. With such shoes in the past a so-called crimping operation has been carried out on the vamp; this operation consists in folding the vamp round a fiat plate having a curved edge and passing the vamp and the plate between two pressing plates, whereby to stretch the vamp to the shape of the curved edge and thus to shape the vamp so that it sits better on the last and more clearly conforms to the shape of the last. While this operation is generally successful it frequently imparts a crease down the centre of the vamp, where the vamp engages the curved edge, Which crease is visible in the finished shoe and is often considered undesirable.

It has therefore been previously proposed to prepare an upper for the lasting operation by deforming selected areas of the upper and it is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for performing this operation.

With the above object in view and in accordance with features of the invention, the herein illustrated apparatus, which has a supporting member provided with at least one opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to the opening for bolding the upper against the supporting member around the opening, and a forming member associated with and linearly movable through the opening, is provided with a first power operated means for actuating the clamping member, a second power operated means for moving the forming member through the opening together with means for controlling the operation of the two power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper around the supporting member and then to cause the forming member to move through the opening to stretch and deform that portion of the upper which extends across the opening and means for rendering the power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the action of the forming member and of the clamping member after a predetermined time interval.

More particularly, the supporting member may be provided with a plurality of openings, arranged in a predetermined pattern, for example, two openings shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions of the upper arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of the upper and a third opening shaped and disposed to leave unclamped a portion extending across the throat of the upper together with a forming member associated with andlinearly movable through each of the openings. Preferably and as herein illustrated, the forming members are adapted to be moved through their associated openings to a variably predetermined extent and certain of the forming members are pivotally mounted for swinging movement about axes perpendicular to their respective lines of linear movement. In accordance with still another feature of the invention means are provided for yielding-1y holding -the clamping member in inoperative position, thus to facilitate the placing of an upper on the supporting member, together with means, i.e., a handle adapted to be grasped by the operator, for moving the clamping member to an operative position in engagement with the upper on the supporting member, and means for setting the two power operated means into operation in response to such 'movement of the clamping member to operative position.

Preferably, and as herein illustrated when the actions of the power operated means are terminated, after the predetermined time interval has elapsed, the clamping member is returned to its inoperative position thus releasing FIG. 2 is a plane view of parts of the illustrative apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows details of the operation of an instep deforming member of the illustrative apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view in end elevation of the deforming member shown in FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 5 is a View of a throat deforming member of the illustrative apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective showing the vamp portion of an upper which has been prepared for lasting by means of apparatus embodying the features of this invention; and

FIG. 7 shows, diagrammatically, a control circuit of the illustrative apparatus.

The illustrative apparatus adapted for use in preparing an upper for lasting comprises a bed 2 supported on a frame 4, a clamping member 6 hingedly supported on lugs 8 secured to the bed 2 and arranged to engage an upper to clamp a vamp portion of the upper against the bed leaving unclamped two generally triangular portions of the vamp and a throat portion thereof, two instep deforming members 10 and 12 (FIG. 2) arranged to move through an aperture 14 in the bed to engage the unclamped triangular portions of the vamp and to deform them into generally pyramidal shapes, and a throat deforming member 18 arranged to move through an aperture 20 in the bed to engage and deform the unclamped throat portion of the upper. The illustrative apparatus also comprises a control circuit so arranged that consequent upon an operator moving the clamping member 6 into a position to clamp an upper against the bed 2 the deforming members 10, 12 and 18 are caused to move to deform the upper a desired amount, and then return to rest positions and the upper is then released.

The frame 4 comprises a fabricated outer frame comprising side plates 24 between which is supported a frame plate 26 on which the bed 2 is supported by pillars 28. The aperture 14 in the bed 2 is of irregular outline, narrowing towards a center line of the bed 2, the aperture is of the shape of a flattened V. A face plate 22, having a sand blasted upper surface and provided with apertures corresponding to the apertures 14 and 20 is secured to the bed 2.

The clamping member 6 comprises an arm 30 pivoted to the lugs 8 by a shaft 32, and supporting towarda forward end a clamping head 34 which is loosely pivoted to the arm 30 by a shaft 36. A handle 38 is provided on the arm 30. The head 34 comprises three rubber faced clamp in-g surfaces 40,42 and 44 which are arranged to clamp an upper to the face plate 22; the surface 40 engages the face plate 22 (in the absence of an upper) forwardly of the aperture 20; the surface 42 between'the aperture 20 and the aperture 14, and the surface 44 rearwardly of the aperture 14, the clamping surfaces extending along and close to edge portions of the apertures.

A hook 46 is secured in the shaft 32 and a strong spring 48 acts between the hook 46 and a bracket 50 secured to the plate 26 and urges the clamping member 4 clockwise (viewing FIG. 1) to carry the clamping head 34 away from the bed 2. Secured to a rearward end portion of the arm 30 is a catch plate 52. A member 54 having a notch 56 is pivoted to a link 58 which is fixed to a shaft 60 mounted for rotation in lugs 62 fixed to the plate 26. Fixed to the shaft 60 is an arm 64 having a slotted end portion 66 which surrounds a pin 68 secured between lugs 69 fixed to a shaft 70 of a piston 71 (FIG. 7) working in a pneumatic cylinder 72 secured to the plate 26.

The catch plate 52 is provided with a bore 74 in which is mounted a piston 76 having a shaft 78 which is adapted to engage an upper end portion of the member 54 during the operations of the illustrative apparatus. A pneumatic valve 80 is secured to the plate 2 by a bracket 82 and a pin 84 mounted transversely in the member 54 is urged toward the valve 80 by a spring 86 which urges the member 54 anticlockwise (viewing FIG. 1) to the extent permitted by a stop pin 87.

In the operation of the illustrative apparatus an upper U is positioned on the face plate 22 when the clamping member 6 is in an inoperative, elevated, position in which it is held by the spring 48, the member 54 riding against an end face 88 of the catch plate 52. The operator, grasping the handle 38, pulls the clamping member 6 downwardly (anticlockwise viewing FIG. 1) until the clamping surfaces 40, 42 and 44 nearly contact the upper on the face plate 22, and the spring 86 urges the member 54 so that it engages under the catch plate 52 as shown in FIG. 1. Movement of the member 54 in under the catch plate 52 causes the pin 84 to contact the valve 80 which, as will later be described, causes air to be admitted to the cylinder 72 thus to push the shaft 72 upwardly thus to urge the link 58 clockwise (viewing FIG. 1) and the member 54 upwardly, urging the clamping member 6 anticlockwise about the shaft 32 and the surfaces 40, 42 and 44 firmly into engagement with the upper to clamp it to the plate 22. The loose mounting of the clamping head 34 on the shaft 36 enables the head 43 to adjust itself to any irregularities of thickness of the upper.

After the upper has been deformed, as will later be described, air is vented from the cylinder 72, and is admitted to the bore 74, thus causing the piston 76 to move rearwardly and the shaft 78 to push the member 54 against the action of the spring 86 out from under the catch plate 52. The spring 48 is thus allowed to reassert itself and return the member 6 to its inoperative, elevated, position.

The two instep deforming members 10 and 12 are substantially similar in construction and operation, and the construction of the member 10 will now be described.

The member 10 comprises a block 90 (FIG. 3) which is rounded and generally semi-conical in shape, with a truncated rounded apex portion 92 directed inwardly of the illustrative apparatus. The shape of the member 10 is chosen so that, for the amount of deformation imparted to the majority of uppers, as much as possible of the upper is in contact with the member 10. The block comprises a web 94 integral with a flange 96 to which is secured by bolts 98 two guide plates 100. Between the guide plates 100 on a pin 102 is mounted a freely running roll 104. At an outer end portion of the block 90 is provided a recess 106 and two coaxial bores 108 extend from the recess 106. A lug 110 which is supported on a shaft 112 of a piston 114 moving in a pneumatic cylinder 116 is pivoted in the recess 106 by a shaft 118 in the bores 108. The shaft 112 is mounted for up and down movement in a block 120 secured to the plate 26 by bolts 124. The block 120 comprises an inclined face 126 and the block 90 is positioned so that the guide plates 100 extend one on either side of the block 120. Springs 128, acting between the web 94 and hooks 130 secured to the plate 26, urge the block 90 clockwise about the shaft 118 and thus urge the roll 104 into engagement with the surface 126. An electric heater 132 is mounted in the block 90 and is supplied with power through a flexible cable 134.

Secured to the piston 114 is a shaft 136 which extends upwardly from the cylinder 116 and moves up and down with the shaft 112. Mounted in a block 138 secured to the side plate 24 is a shaft 140 to which is secured at an outer end a knurled hand wheel 142 and at an inner end a scroll cam 144.

In the operation of the illustrative machine air is admitted to the cylinder 116 under the piston 114, causing the shafts 112 and 136 to move upwardly. The block 90 is constrained to move into a position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, moving upwardly while swinging about the axis of pin 102. Upward movement of the shaft 112 and 0f the block 90 is limited by engagement of the shaft 136 with the scroll cam 144 and by rotation of the hand wheel 142 the amount of upward movement of the block 90 may be adjusted. When air is vented from the cylinder 116 the block 90 is returned to the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 by a spring 146.

The construction of the instep deforming member 12 is substantially similar to that of the member 10. The member 12 comprises a block 90' (similar to the block 90) which is mounted on a shaft 112' and which is, in the operation of the illustrative apparatus, moved upwardly by a piston acting in a cylinder 116 to an extent determined by adjustment of a hand wheel 142, and is returned to an inoperative position by a spring 146'.

The throat deforming member 18, which will now be described (see FIG. 5) comprises a block 148 which is generally symmetrical about a center line of the illustrative apparatus. The block 148 comprises two portions 150, 152 which each have rounded upper surfaces designated respectively 154, 156, which converge downwardly to a saddle 158. In plan, see FIG. 2, the block 148 is of the shape of a flattened V, apex pointing toward the rear of the illustrative apparatus. In front view (see FIG. 5) the surfaces 154, 156 are generally V shaped. The block 148 comprises a boss 159 by which it is secured to an upper end portion of a shaft 160 connected to a piston 162, see also FIG. 7, mounted for up and down movement in a cylinder 164 mounted on the underside of the plate 26. The shaft 160 is mounted for movement in a plate 166 which is secured between two pillars 28 to the plate 26. A pin 168 mounted in the block 148 passes through a bore 169 in plate 166 and serves to guide the block 148. An electric heater 170 mounted in the block 148 is supplied with power through a flexible cable 172. A shaft 174 secured to the piston 162 is adapted to move with the shaft 160 through the plate 26. Secured to a front panel 176 of the illustrative apparatus is a knob 178 which is connected through a flexible drive 180 to a shaft 182 mounted in a block 184 secured to theplate 26. The shaft 182 carries a scroll cam 1S6 positioned over the shaft 174. In the operation of the illustrative apparatus compressed air is admitted to the cylinder 164 under the piston 162 and causes the piston 162, shaft 160, shaft 174 and block 148 to move upward until the shaft 174 contacts the scroll cam 186. It will be seen that adjustment of the position of the cam 186 by rotation of the knob 178 controls the extent of upward movement of the block 148. When air is vented from the cylinder 164 a spring 188 causes the block 148 to return to its lower, rest, position.

The operation of the illustrative apparatus will now be described. In a rest condition of the apparatus the clamping member 6 is in its elevated and inoperative position and the cylinders 72, 116, 116' and 164 are all vented to the atmosphere. The temperature of the deforming members is adjusted to a level appropriate to the material of the upper to be operated upon, generally about 100 C., and the knobs 142, 142' and 178 are so adjusted that the deforming members 10, 12 and 18 will rise to a desired extent to deform an upper. If the upper is one which does not require a throat deforming operation the throat deforming member 18 may be rendered inoperative, as will later appear. The valve 80 is in a closed condition (see FIG. 7).

The operator positions a shoe upper U on the face plate 22 and, grasping the handle 38, pulls the clamping member 6 down into engagement with the upper to clamp it against the plate 22. As has been described this movement of the clamping member allows the member 54 to move in under the catch plate 52, FIG. 1, and causes the pin 84 to contact the valve 80 to open the valve 80. Pressurized air from a supply pipe 189 is thus admitted from the valve 80, through a pipe 1%, through an open valve 192, through a pipe 194 to the cylinder 72, and the shaft 70 thus begins to move up, causing upward movement of the arm 54 and hence clamping of the upper to the plate 22 by the clamping member 6. As the shaft 70 moves upward a cam 195 thereon, FIG. 7, causes a valve 196 to open, thus admitting compressed air to a pipe 198. From the pipe 198 leads a pipe 200 which conducts compressed air through a speed control valve 282 to the cylinders 116 and 116, and a pipe 204 which leads through a manually operated valve 206 and a speed control valve 208 to the cylinder 164. Thus, at a rate dependent on the setting of the valve 202, the instep deforming members 10 and '12. will rise to deform the clamped upper. If the valve 206 is open the member 18 will similarly rise, at a rate dependent on the setting of the valve 208. If the valve 206 is closed the throat deforming member 18 is rendered inoperative.

While the deforming members are moving up'ward air passes along the pipe 198 through a restrictor valve 210, a second restrictor valve 212 to an accumulator 214. A pipe 216 leads from the accumulator 214 to a pressure operated valve 218. After the deforming members have been moved upward air passes, at a rate adjustable by adjustment of the restrictor valve 212, to the accumulator 214 and thence through the pipe 216 to a valve 218. When the pressure in the accumulator 214 has built up to a su'lficiently high level the valve 218 is opened, and a pipe 228- is connected to the air supply through the valve 218. This pipe leads to the valve 192 and, through a branch pipe 222, to the bore 74. The piston 76 in the bore 74 cannot move as long as the cylinder 72 is acting to force the arm 54 upward, but air through the pipe 220 operates the valve 192 and vents the pipe 194 to the atmosphere. A spring 224 (FIG. 1) operates to move the shaft 70 downward, thus to remove the clamping pressure of the clamping member 6. At the same time the relief of the upward force on the arm 54 allows the shaft 78 to move to push the arm 54 out from under the catch plate 52, thus to allow the springs 48 to move the clamping member 6 into its inoperative position, and thus closing the valve 80. At the same time downward movement of the shaft 70 operates the valve 196 to vent the pipe 198 to atmosphere. Pressure thus drops in the cylinders 116, 116' and 164 which are vented to the atmosphere through quick exhaust valves 226 and 228. The deforming members thus return to their inoperative positions and the deformed upper, see FIG. 6, may be removed from the apparatus.

It may be noted that the time for which the deforming members are held upward to deform the leather upper is dependent on the setting of the valve 212, which controls the rate at which pressure builds up in the accumulator 214. A manually operable valve 230 can be used to admit compressed air to pipe 216 for opening valve 218 before pressure builds up in accumulator 214.

It will be understood that the exact shape and arrangement of the deformed areas of the upper may be varied to suit different shoemaking conditions. Also, as explained above, the amount of deformation at any area may be varied by suitable adjustment of the step cams 144, 144' and 186, While the throat forming member 18 may be rendered inoperative if desired. Moreover, it is within the spirit of this invention to provide an additional forming member, and associated opening in the work supporting members of the machine for deforming the toe portion of the upper, as indicated, for example, by broken lines in FIG. 6.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for deforming portions ofa shoe upper in preparation for lasting comprising a supporting member provided with an Opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complement al to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, a forming mem'ber associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, and means for controlling the operation of said two power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said opening to stretch and deform that portion of the upper extending across said opening.

2. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting comprising a supporting member provided with an opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, means for controlling the operation of said two power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said opening to stretch and deform that portion of the upper extending across said opening, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and forming member after a predetermined time interval.

3. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting mem ber provided with a plurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern, a work clamping member having Work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, and means for controlling the operation of said power means in a predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings.

4. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said-power means in a predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and the forming member after a predetermined time interval.

5. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, said openings being shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two gen erally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of an upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces-complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, and means for controlling the operation of said two power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings.

6. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, said openings being shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of an upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly'movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said two power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the. clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move' through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and the forming members after a predetermined time interval.

7. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, two of said openings being shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of an upper and a third opening shaped and disposed to leave unclamped a portion extending across the throat of the upper, work clamping means having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped across the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, means for actuating said work clamping means, means for moving said forming members through said openings, and means for controlling the operation of said moving means to cause said forming members to move through said openings, after the upper has been clamped against the supporting member, to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings.

8. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, two of said openings being shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of an upper and a third opening shaped and disposed to leave unclamped a portion extending across the throat of the upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, and means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings.

9. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, two of said openings being shaped and disposed to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of an upper and a third opening shaped and disposed to leave unclamped a portion extending across the throat of the upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping mem her, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp an upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and the forming member after a predetermined time interval.

10. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting memher provided with a plurality of openings, and arranged in a predetermined pattern, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings to a variably predetermined extent, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, and means for controlling the operation of said power means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across the openings.

11. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, and arranged in a predetermined pattern, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings to a variably predetermined extent, -a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said power means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across the openings, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terrninate the actions of the clamping member and the forming members after a predetermined time interval.

12. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, two of said openings being shaped and disposed as to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of the upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of the upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings to a variably predetermined extent, each of said forming members being pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to its line of linear move-- ment, 9. first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings and to swing about their pivotal axes to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings.

13. Apparatus for deforming portions of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with a plurality of openings, two of said openings being shaped and disposed as to leave unclamped two generally triangular portions arranged apex-to-apex and extending across the instep portion of the upper, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said openings for holding portions of the upper clamped against the supporting member around said openings, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through each of said openings to a variably predetermined extent, each of said forming members being pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to its line of linear movement, 9. first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming members through said openings, means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming members to move through said openings and to swing about their pivotal axes to stretch and deform those portions of the upper which extend across said openings, and means for rendering said power operated means inactive thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and the forming members after a predetermined time interval.

14. Apparatus for deforming a portion of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with an opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, means for yieldingly holding said clamping member in an inoperative position away from said supporting member, means for moving the clamping member from its inoperative position to an operative position in engagement with the vamp portion of an upper on said supporting member, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, and means for setting said power operated means in operation in response to movement of the clamping member to operative position.

15. Apparatus for deforming a portion of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with an opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, means for yieldingly holding said clamping member in an inoperative position away from said supporting member, means for moving the clamping member from its inoperative position to a position in engagement with the vamp portion of an upper on said supporting member, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, means for setting said power operated means in operation in response to movement of the clamping member to operative position, and means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said opening to stretch and preform those portions of the upper which extend across said opening.

16. Apparatus for deforming a portion of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with an opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, means for yieldingly holding said clamping member in an inoperative position away from said supporting member, means for moving the clamping member from its inoperative position to a position in engagement with the vamp portion of an upper on said supporting member, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, means for setting said power operated means in operation in response to movement of the clamping member to operative position, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and the forming member after a predetermined time interval.

17. Apparatus for deforming a portion of a shoe upper in preparation for lasting, comprising a supporting member provided with an opening, a work clamping member having work engaging surfaces complemental to said opening for holding a portion of an upper clamped against the supporting member around said opening, means for yieldingly holding said clamping member in an inoperative position away from said supporting member, means for moving the clamping member from its inoperative position to a position in engagement with the vamp portion of an upper on said supporting member, a forming member associated with and linearly movable through said opening, a first power operated means for actuating said clamping member, a second power operated means for moving said forming member through said opening, means for setting said power operated means in operation in response to movement of the clamping member to operative position, means for controlling the operation of said power operated means in predetermined sequence first to cause the clamping member to clamp the upper against the supporting member and then to cause said forming member to move through said opening to stretch and preform that portion of the upper which extends across said opening, and means for rendering said power operated means inoperative thus to terminate the actions of the clamping member and of the forming member after a predetermined time interval.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,135 8/1886 Marshall 12-54.1 1,495,602 5/1924 Leroy 1254.1 2,117,732 5/1938 Korting 1254.2 2,301,785 11/1942 Marx 1254.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 4,019 1913 Great Britain. 783,960 10/ 1957 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR DEFORMING PORTIONS OF A SHOE UPPER IN PREPARATION FOR LASTING COMPRISING A SUPPORTING MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING, A WORK CLAMPING MEMBER HAVING WORK ENGAGING SURFACES COMPLEMENTAL TO SAID OPENING FOR HOLDING A PORTION OF AN UPPER CLAMPED AGAINST THE SUPPORTING MEMBER AROUND SAID OPENING, A FORMING MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH AND LINEARLY MOVABLE THROUGH SAID OPENING, A FIRST POWER OPERATED MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID CLAMPING MEMBER, A SECOND POWER OPERATED MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FORMING MEMBER THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID TWO POWER OPERATED MEANS IN PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE FIRST TO CAUSE THE CLAMPING MEMBER TO CLAMP THE UPPER AGAINST THE SUPPORTING MEMBER AND THEN TO CAUSE SAID FORMING MEMBER TO MOVE THROUGH SAID OPENING TO STRETCH AND DEFORM THAT PORTION OF THE UPPER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID OPENING. 